Galvanic battery.



PATENTED JULY 2, 1907.

B. J.. BLAMBUS'ER. GALVANIG BATTERY. APPLICATION HLBDJAN. zo. 190s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'INI/ENTOR No. 858,`56'.` PATENTED JULY 2, 1907.

B. J. BLAMBUSBR.

GALVANIG BATTERY. APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 20, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'UNITED STATES;v PATENT oFFIoE.

BENJAMIN IL BLAMEUsEa or CHIC-Aso, ILLINOIS.

GALVANIG BATTERY..

during chemical action, and theobject of the invention is to provide a battery oi this general character o a simple and inexpensive nature and o i a compact and light construction which shall be adapted to aord, during use, comparatively high efficiency withrelationto its bulk and shall be adapted to be sealed up so as to prevent derangement of its elements or spilling-of its solutions, means of animproved and simplified character being provided for permitting the `escape oi lgas so that the same is" prevented from accumulating during use of the battery and lessening the etciency of the cell.

The invention consists in certain novel features ofthe construction and combinations and arrangements of the several parts of the improved battery, l whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, cheaper and otherwisebetter adapted and more convenient for use, all as will be hereinafter fullyset rth'.

Thenovel features of the invention will be carefully defined inthe anims, `j 1 Inthe'sccompanying drawings which serve to illus- -trat a tl`1 e V invention-#Figure 1 is a perspective view showing alba'ttery embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 isariL laiial section taken vertically through the improved cell and showing the elements thereof in relaton,the fluids of the cell being, however, omitted;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken horizontal through the upperpart of the improved cell in the p ane indicated by the line a-a in Fig. 2; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary' sectional viewshowing a modified `formationl of the zinc element comprised in my invention; Fig. 4 is a partial plan view showing the carbon element of theibattery,

said insulating holderforthe= zin'ofelement; Fig. 8 is a section taken trans'verse l'y and vertically through said Specication of Letters Patent. Application sled January 20,1906. serial No. 296,977.

" 'Patented .my a, 1907.

Fig'. 9 is a` perspective view, showing the receptacle for the activesolution of the battery. In theseviews 1 representsa jar or container, which maybe made from glass, earthen-ware or other material and which is herein shown as rectangular in cross-sec;

tion so that its four sides 2, 2 are made flattened.` By

this construction of the container it will be evident that a number of cells may be packed closely together with their flattened sides luslfone on the other so as to occupy much lessspace than would be required for cells hav-Y ing cylindricalv containers in the ordinary way. This construction of the container affords' a material advantage, but I do iiot desire to be understood as limiting myself to such form as itis evident that, when desired, cylindrical containers may be employed.

3 represents, as a whole, the carbon or electro-negative element of the improved battery'and which has a cylindrical hollow body portion depending within the container 1, said element being provided with a projecting flange 4 at its upper part, which flange' is made in rectangular form and is adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the container as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The

diameter of the cylindrical body portion of the element 3 is such that a space 7 is aorded within said container and surrounding said cylindrical shell ofthe carbon element, and the anged upper part '4 of the element has at lone corner, an opening 5 affording access to said space 7l so that the depolarizing solution may be poured therein as will be presently explained.- Said opening 5 is designed tobe'tightly closed, after the space 7 has been filled with solution by means of a plug or. stopper 6.

3a is a binlding post carried at one corner of the flanged upper4 part oi element 3- for' attachment of a circuit conductor thereto-in a well known way.

8 is a cylindrical receptacle adapted to contain the' activesolution or electrolyte which maybe a dilute solution of sulfuric acid, for example, and said receptacle has' an enlarged lower part which is made with substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical shell of the 'carbon element and is adapted to be rested upontli'e bottom of the container 1. The cylindrical. body portion of the-carbon element 3 is of lessheight than the container 1, so that its lower edges rest upon theannular shoulder 9 afforded at the top'of the enlarged lower portion of receptacle' 8 above described, and said enlarged lower part of said receptacle is made with non-porous Walls so that the electrolyte contained thereinis prevented from permeating said walls and escaping into the lower part of the space 7 outside said receptacle and .drical'body portion of the carbon element 3, forminga porous Partiti@ er our separating Said when elemelit from the electro-positive or zinc element which as will be presently described, is held within said porous cu'p and exposed to the action of the electrolytic solution within the receptacle. The receptacle 8 may be' conveniently formed from eartlren-ware, its lower enlarged 'portion being glaz'ed to render it non-porous or impervious to the electrolyte, while its upper reduced portion 10 is left unglaz'ed so that the solutions may freely'permeate it. The same resultl may be attained by forming the receptacle entirely from porous material and dipping the enlarged -lower part thereof in molten paraffin or the like.

The cylindrical.reduced upper part l0 of the receptacle 8 is made in lessdiameter than" the internal diameter of the cylindrical shell ofthe carbon element 3, so that an annular spacefor chamber l1 is produced' between said partswithin said cylindrical shell of the carbon element and the upper part of said shellhas suitably arranged apertures 15 produced within it for the passage of the depolarizing solution from the outer space 7 in the container into said chamber 11 between element 3 and the porous wall 10 of the receptacle 8,

In practice, I prefer to u n'ite the carbon element with saidl receptacle 8 so that these parts may form, to all intents 'one part or section ofthe battery, and I preferably accomplish this result by extending the upper edge p0rtion l12 of the receptacle 8 within the central opening at the upper part of element 3, cement being applied be tween the parts as shown at 13 for holding said parts in relation. In a similar way cement may also be employed between theparts at the lower edge of element 3 for holding the same upon the shoulder 9 of the receptacle. lWhen the parts 3 and 8 have been thus united, they areplaced in the container l and the joint between the upper part of the shell of element 3 and the wall of the container is also closed by means of cement as seen at 14 on' the drawings so that a tight joint is provided to v prevent escape of liquid or gases. .40

The upper'end of carbon element 3 is provided with a circular opening atits center as above stated and the zinc or' electro-positive battery element is insertible and removable at said opening, being carried on a cap or cover 16 made in circular form from glass, paraned wood or other insulating material and of a diameter such that its edge portions 17 overlap the sides of the circular opening in the carbon element and rest on the upper surface thereof outside said circular opening as seen in Fig. 2. The lower face of the cap or cover 16 has a marginal downwardly extended rib 18 adapted, when the ,parts are assembled, to correspond in position above anv annular groove or channel 20 in tlrel top face f the carbon element 3, and an elastic or compressible packing or gasket'19 is interposedcbetween the parts lower sides of inturned projections 23, 23', integrally produced on the element 3 at oppositesides of its opening as clearly shown in Figs.'2, 4 and 5. By this construction it will be seen that when the compressible gasket 0r packingring 19 has been laid on the grooved surface of element 3 and the cap or cover 16.is applied over the circular opening at the top o said clement with its lugs 21 depending in said opening, the turning of the cap or cover relative to element 3 will serve to engage the earn projections of the respective parts whcrc by the cap or cover will be drawn down tightly toward element 3, compressing gasket 19 to produce a tight joint effectively preventing'escape of liquid or gases :between the parts even though the cell be overturned.

24 is a bore or passage extended vertically through the insulating zinc holder formed of cap or cover 16, and 25 is a connection or hanger for the zinc element 26 in the form of a stem passed through the boreor passage 24 and having at its upper end a washer or gasket 2S pressed tightlyion the top of the cap to prevent the escape of liquid or gases around the stem. 29 is a binding post on the upper end ofthe stem, above the gasket vor washer 28 and affording connectionv of a circuit conductor with the zinc element 26. Said zinc element is herein shown formed from a zinc cylinder the upper edge of which is pressed securely against the under lace trolytic solution by a suitable insulating covering and having rounded end portions 38 which are bared and are adapted for detachable engagement in certain of the openings 27 in element 26 as shown in Fig. 2, for supporting said zinc element from the cap or cover with its upper edge pressed upon lugs 21 thereof. The stein or hanger 25 thus serves not merely as an electrical circuit connection for the zinc element but also connects the said element with the cap or cover so that said clement m-ay be removed irorh the cell when said cap or cover is removed, the zinc cylinder being of a size 'to conveniently pass through the circular opening at the top `of the carbon element 3, In this way it willbe understood that the cap or cover,l carrying withit said zinc element, may be removed conveniently fronrtliey cell to permit the same to be cleansed and renewed from time to time or when run down and owing to the detachable connection of the arms of the holder 37 with said zinc element, it is evident that by pressing said arms toward each other, their ends may be disengaged from the openings in the zinc element when the saine is worn out permitting the worn element to be removed and replaced by a fresh one, ,which when held to the cap or cover by the engagement of the holder arms with its openings 27, may be passed down through the opening of element 3 into the interior oi the cell, whereupon, after turning the cap or cover to engage its cam projections with those of the carbon element, the cell will again'be sealed and ready for renewed use.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified formation of the zinc element wherein the same is yformed from thin sheet zinc rolled in cylindrical form with a four-ply seam'lorlap 25 at each side.' Where this construction is employed, the lap joints at opposite sides of the 'cylinder give an increased thickness of metal at which openings 38 may be provided to receive the bare rounded extremities ofthe elastic arms of the` zinc4 holder 37. The cylindrical zinc element 26 carried on the cap or cover 16 is larranged to depend, when the parts are assembled, as seen in Fig. `2, within the cylinof said porous Wall l of the receptacle, so that an annu- I lar space or chamber is provided as shown at 26.l surrounding the zinc element and adapted `to receive the active solution. The openings 27 afford communication from the interior of element 26 to the chamber or space 26n -surrounding said element so that the electrolytic solution within said element may circulate through said openings into chamber26 to'maintain a `Asubstantially uniform strength of the electrolytein chamber 2G" during the life of the battery. A comparatively large supply of the electrolyte 'is carried by the receptacle and in service it Will be understood that as the solution is neutralized by action on the zinc element in the surrounding chamber 26, -it will become heavier and` consequently will-sink to the bottom of the receptacle, being replaced by the fresh solution 'from within the zinc element. v, e In order to provide against excessive rise of pressure within the'cell from the generation of gas during service, I provide the cell with a valved gas outlet or vent,

which I will now describe: Thei underside ofthe cap or cover 16, between 'the lugs 21, 2l is made withan upwardly extended dome-like surface or4 cavity 30, in which the gas generated in the cell may collect and* at the apex of said recess, a vent aperture 31 isl produced in the cap or cover, being surrounded by a valve seat 32 at the top surface of the cap or cover. 33 is a valve arranged to fit said seat 32 and carried by a spring or elastic stem 34 attached at 35 to one side of the cap or cover. 36`is a setscrew carried by an arm overhanging the stem 34 of valve 33 and by means of which'the spring tension of said stem may be regulated at will.' By this arrangement,l when the pressure of gasv within the cell rises too high, thevalve 33 will be automatically lifted lfrom its seat to allow the excess of gas to escape-at the duct or vent 31, whereby the pressure in the cell will be reduced so that the valve 33 may again seat itself to prevent escape of `fluid from the cell. i

The improved galvanic battery constructed as above described is of an extremely simple and inexpensive nature and is especially Well adapted for use by reason of the compactness of its arrangement and also by reason of the fact that the cell, when use is hermetically sealed so that even if upset, no fluid can be spilled therefrom. Also since the receptacle 8, carbon element 3 and container 1 are iixedly connected with each other as above stated so as to form substantially but a single part or section and the cap or cover 16 and the.

zinc element are also connected Vwith each other by means of the conducting stem of the zinc element so as veniently and quickly accomplished by an unskilled person'.

Ifdesired, thesalts for the active and depolarizing solutions may be placed in a dry state in the receptacle 8 and Vspace 7, respectively, previously to sealing the carbonI element to the container, and when this is done, it is only necessary to fill the interior of the cell with Water sufficient to dissolve such dry salts, such water being poured through the opening 5 in flange 4 and through the central opening at the top ofthe carbon element.

From the above description of my improvements it will be seen that the improved cell is capable of con- `and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A galvanic battery comprising a container, a battery element having a hollow body portion pendent in the container and provided with an opening at its top communieating with thel hollow of its body portion, a receptacle in the container and having a laterally enlarged lower part 'whereon the lower edges of the body portion ofsaid element are rested, said receptacle being also provided with a. hollow porous cylindrical part extended up from said enlarged. lower part and Within the hollowbody portion of said element, a cap or cover of insulating material to close the opening at the top of said element and a battery element carried by the cap or cover and pendent through said opening within the porous cylindrical upper part of the receptacle.

2.4 A galvanic battery comprising a container, a battery velement having a hollow body portion pendent in the container nand provided with an opening at its top communicating with the hollow of its body portion, a receptacle in the container and having an enlarged non porous lower part whercon the lower edge of the hollow body portion of said element is rested, said receptacle being also provided with a hollow porous cylindrical part extended up from the enlarged lower part within the hollow body portion of said element, means for connecting the `upper edge of said porous cylindrical part of the receptacle to the upper part of said element, a cap or cover of insulating material to close the opening at the top of said element and another battery element carried by the cap or cover and pendent through said opening within the porous cylindrical upper part of the receptacle.

3. A galvanic battery comprising a container and having an opening at its top, a cap or cover to close said opening, a battery element having openings formed through it and adapted, when carried by the cap or cover, to depend through said opening withinthe container and a holder carried on the cap or cover and` comprising divergent spring arms the extremities of which are adapted for detachable engagement with openings in said battery element.

BENJAMIN J. BLAMEUSER.

Witnesses:

Clins. C. TILLMAN, M. A. NYMAN. 

